“I should have made you wear a long skirt instead of a short one. Would you have gotten hurt less then?”
Hee-ae muttered as if reproaching himself. What does skirt length matter?
I glanced at the teacher next to me and asked,
“Does the lodging side take responsibility for the accident?”
“It’s their management responsibility, so probably. Were you very surprised? I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt.”
Why does the teacher keep mixing casual and formal speech? I greeted the teacher and came outside. By the way, I already took off that weird skirt. It’s comfortable wearing pants. As soon as I came outside, someone called me.
“You’re the savior of Sa-hoe’s life? Thanks.”
“The fan club vice president? Were you two friends?”
An unexpected combination. I shook my head vigorously and said,
“But what savior of life?”
“If you hadn’t stepped back with him, he could have been hit by the lighting and been in danger. Then that makes you a lifesaver, right? Isn’t that so?”
“Ah, really?”
I answered soullessly. Lifesaver, it’s really cringeworthy. Just saying thanks would be enough, why add such grandiose words?
The vice president rambled on about something more then left. I turned to the side at a presence I suddenly felt. It was In-sae, Hee-ae, and Cho-yeon.
“Shi-dan. Is your leg okay?”
“I just scraped it, how does something like that even happen?”
Let’s manage the lighting properly. Hee-ae seemed worried and suddenly hugged me. I was flustered by the sudden contact, but Hee-ae seemed very surprised so I just left it.
“I’m sorry, all the other kids ran to you but only I…”
“What are you two doing alone? Nice job.”
Cho-yeon said with a frown. And then even Cho-yeon and In-sae joined in and hugged me. After a moment, I asked with a slight frown,
“Why are the four of us doing this? It wasn’t a big deal, aren’t you welcoming me too enthusiastically?”
“That’s not something someone who barely avoided lighting falling right in front of their eyes should say.”
“Right, it is a big deal.”
When Cho-yeon refutes like that, I have nothing to say. My heart was trembling strangely. I pondered the reason. Why am I like this when I’m not even scared or afraid anymore?
When In-sae let go of his hands and moved away, my body flinched greatly without me realizing it. And when Hee-ae, and finally Cho-yeon moved away, I stepped back largely. Now that I’m separated from the kids, I understand. I pressed down on my head and said,
“Now, now.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Cho-yeon said with a light frown. I felt great guilt. What should I do if I’m swayed by all three of them? I calmed my jumping heart. And hiding my confused expression, I shouted loudly,
“Let’s go to sleep. It’s late.”
We walked down the hallway. Then I remembered one thing I’d been forgetting all this time.
‘The Five Great Kings noticed my acting.’
I feel like I need to say this right now. Originally with things like this, you think you don’t need to say it, then you pass it over and a big misunderstanding happens. And a big fight happens and the relationship grows apart, anyway it gets complicated.
“Wait, I need to contact my parents. They sent me a text earlier but I forgot.”
I urgently took out my phone and looked for Cho-yeon’s contact. It’s still saved well as ‘Mom’. I sent a message quickly, being careful not to let the text content show.
[Yu Shi-dan][11:01 PM] The Five Great Kings noticed my acting.
I closed my phone again and put it in my bag. In-sae turned to me and said,
“Shi-dan keeps getting involved in incidents. The masked shadow like the wind too, and Fake Hwi too.”
“In-sae, I don’t know why either.”
Shouldn’t it be time to live normally by now? While thinking bitterly, my legs got tangled and I fell. Hee-ae caught me and asked,
“Are you okay?”
“That’s what I mean, I don’t know why I’m like this now either.”
Isn’t the cliché of suddenly falling for no reason and someone catching you too common? I give it 17 points out of 100.
“Thanks for catching me.”
Were they still not asleep? Kids followed behind us murmuring. They always followed only the Five Great Kings, but today they’re following us. The fan club members whispered.
“Now that I think about it, Yu Shi-dan has always brought incidents around.”
“Did you hear that news? Inwon High and Choegang High formed an alliance, could he be that spy?”
“I didn’t even know they formed an alliance. Don’t push it that way.”
That’s too much. How exemplary and upright of a student am I? The kids apologized at my answer, saying they were sorry. By the way, Inwon and Choegang? I suddenly remembered what the Five Great Kings asked me earlier.
“Gogo, is Choegang Yeongwon?”
The short male student was noticeably flustered. I’m sorry. The atmosphere became awkward because I suddenly said something incomprehensible, right?
I was about to go in with an awkward smile, but the male student’s attitude bothered me. It’s too unsettling to just pass over. I decided to remember the kid’s face. The answer is to remember kids who say meaningful things.
“Kids, it’s late so hurry and go to sleep. Sleep well.”
I greeted the kids as I entered the room. When the door closed, the noisy sounds quieted down a bit.
“This school trip is also eventful. I’m tired.”
“I know, are you really okay?”
“You don’t need to worry. I’m really okay.”
Hee-ae still showed signs of anxiety at my words. Then at some point, as if losing energy, he said weakly with a slightly tired expression,
“I’m sorry. I need to sleep first.”
Hee-ae yawned and spoke in a sleepy voice. After Hee-ae entered the room, I was left with In-sae and Cho-yeon. Cho-yeon checked the text I sent earlier and his expression hardened.
“Wait, I have something to ask him.”
Cho-yeon’s voice trembled. I looked at In-sae and said,
“I’ll talk for a bit and come back, sorry.”
In-sae obediently went into the room. As soon as the door closed, Cho-yeon immediately lowered his voice and asked,
“Explain the text you sent earlier. What do you mean?”
“Exactly what it says. The Five Great Kings noticed the acting.”
Cho-yeon’s eyes wavered. I’m the one who got caught but Cho-yeon had a more anxious expression. I thought for a moment and said,
“But considering that, we’ve been getting along fine until now. If something was going to happen, it would have happened already.”
“Fat chance. What if they reveal it was all acting later?”
“Yeah, what then?”
At my answer, Cho-yeon grimaced. But there’s no particular solution. Cho-yeon seemed to know that too as he relaxed his expression and sighed. I looked at Cho-yeon’s profile and said,
“But I’m not that worried.”
“What do you mean? Why aren’t you worried?”
Even if it’s revealed now, I don’t think my friends will push me too hard. I brushed it off with a laugh and went to call In-sae. As soon as I opened the door, In-sae asked,
“Are you done?”
“Yeah. Sorry for suddenly kicking you out.”
“The kids kept going on about spy, spy.”
In-sae said in passing.
“I said I’m not hundreds of times. Shouldn’t they suspect the kid who goes around making school maps instead?”
I sighed and grabbed my head. It’s not even a mafia game, but the kids are making a fuss trying to find a spy. In-sae observed Cho-yeon and me, then asked indifferently,
“Are you going to sleep now?”
“We should. At this rate it’ll pass midnight.”
We opened the door and entered the room. Hee-ae wasn’t moving at all, already asleep. Behind me, Cho-yeon and In-sae quietly conversed about whether to give more autographs.
When I lay down, In-sae stopped talking. I was about to cover myself with the blanket and close my eyes, but asked in surprise,
“Why aren’t you talking more?”
“Weren’t you going to sleep? I’ll be quiet.”
“No, I can’t sleep when it’s quiet. Just keep talking.”
I answered in a sleepy voice. That’s why I sleep well at school. The kids can never stay quiet and are always chattering. At home, when I turn off the lights and lie down, I get scared.
“Shi-dan, are you scared?”
In-sae looked down at me lying down and asked. I pushed away In-sae’s face that had gotten close. What if you suddenly come close?
“Of what?”
“Cicada sounds?”
In-sae counted on his fingers.
“And also when it suddenly gets quiet and when everyone disappears.”
I closed my mouth and stared at In-sae intently. In-sae didn’t particularly waver and said matter-of-factly,
“Seems right.”
In-sae continued the conversation that had been cut off. Cho-yeon couldn’t hide his flustered expression. I tried hard to calm my surprised heart, pulled the blanket up to my neck and closed my eyes.
The next day, as soon as I woke up, Hee-ae was hugging me again. I was startled and escaped from Hee-ae’s arms. And just then, my eyes met with Cho-yeon who had woken up.
“Hee-ae needs to fix his sleeping habits.”
I said while pointing at Hee-ae. He was like this in the first semester too but it seems he still hasn’t fixed it. Cho-yeon sighed and laughed, and I turned my gaze to the window.
Why am I like this lately, the three of them keep feeling awkward and uncomfortable. I sat with my knees up and buried my face.
Hee-ae, who woke up groggily, came to my side.
“What are you doing?”
I lifted my face. As expected, it’s uncomfortable. I deliberately spoke brightly and smiled.
“Kids, pack. Let’s go home.”
“Is it morning already?”
In-sae, who was lying down, lifted his head and asked. I’m scared of my own emotions that are helplessly wavering. I was too conscious of the three of them. I tried hard not to show my confused state. And so the school trip ended.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
